Montgomery County is the third-largest county in Pennsylvania, and its population is larger than those in the states of Wyoming, Alaska, Vermont and North Dakota. Locals know Montgomery County for a number of reasons. For example, it was one of Forbes’ Best Places to Raise a Family in 2008; Montgomery County is home to the King of Prussia Mall, one of the largest malls in the country; and there are always many, many fun things to do in Montgomery County. This makes Montgomery County one of the top places to live in all of PA and along with Bucks County, on the East Coast!

Since it was founded in 1784, Montgomery County has seen some of its residents go on to do great things in entertainment, sports, politics and literature. Here at Joseph Bograd Real Estate, we think all of Montgomery County’s residents are notable, but in the last 50-100 years, the county has produced some very significant individuals. We thought it would be a good idea to share who some of them are and where they’re from.

Jenkintown: Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper grew up in Jenkintown, which is about 10 miles north of downtown Philadelphia. He is a graduate of Germantown Academy, and he once worked for the Philadelphia Daily News. Jenkintown’s residents are proud to claim People Magazine’s 2011 Sexiest Man Alive as one of their own.

Lower Merion: Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is one of the NBA’s greatest players of all-time. He was drafted right out Lower Merion High School, but before he was a 15-time All-Star, MVP and 5-time NBA champion, Bryant led his alma mater to a state championship in his senior year.

Penn Valley: M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan is one of the most well-known filmmakers working today. Films like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and The Village were pop-culture phenomena, and to this day they have maintained cult status among film enthusiasts. However, before he was a Hollywood mainstay, Shyamalan was making films on a Super 8 camera in Pennsbury, an affluent section of Montgomery County.

Cheltenham: Benjamin Netanyahu

Today, Benjamin Netanyahu is one of the world’s most important politicians. But before he was the Prime Minister of Israel, Netanyahu was one of Cheltenham High School’s best soccer players. That’s right, Netanyahu spent his formative years right here in Montgomery County!

Wyncote: Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound is one of the most important figures in the history of literature. If not for him, the world may have never read T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock or James Joyce’s Ulysses. A renowned poet in his own right, his first publication was a limerick about William Jennings Bryant in the Jenkintown Times-Chronicle.

Montgomery County is home to a litany of notable people; these are just a few. If you’re interested in raising your family in one of the best places, and you’d like your children to go through the same school systems as some important politicians, all-star athletes and award-winning actors, contact us to see homes for sale in Montgomery County, PA today!